|  | Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $7.70
as of 3/14/2010 14:44 CDT details
You Save: $10.29 (57%)
New (61) Used (47) Collectible (5) from $7.70
Seller: READERS
Rating:  411 reviews
Sales Rank: 109
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 400
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.3
ISBN: 0439023491
EAN: 9780439023498
ASIN: 0439023491
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new copy, no ugly remainder marks.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 26-30 of 411
 Catching Fire is AMAZING February 7, 2010
Jessica Willey (RI, USA)
wow, suzanne collins she traps you in immediately and makes you angry for more when the book ends. I love the characters and how she portrays them. She's amazing
Wonderful series ..hungry for more February 6, 2010
Melissa Carney (WESTERN WA)
GREAT BOOKS FOR KIDS, A QUICK READ , HELD MOMS ATTENTION TOO ..READY FOR MORE
Couldn't Put This One Down Either! February 5, 2010
J. Han (Orange County, CA)
The sequel to The Hunger Games did not disappoint! Finished it in 2 days. CanNOT wait for book 3!
LOVE THESE BOOKS! February 5, 2010
K. Worthington (Rochester, MN USA)
Such a great follow up to Hunger Games. Can't wait for the next one!
 Catching Fire? More like a half-assed splutter from a wet lighter February 4, 2010
Denzel Lockheart (Edmonton, Canada)
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
Let me retrace back to late September 2009 when I first heard of this series in general. I was in a bookstore and when I glanced over at the teen section, I noticed the two books, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Both had interesting looking covers, however I put off reading them because of the hype. It wasn't until November 2009 when I gave up trying to hide from them and got the first book from the library. So I read it and loved it! It had tons of action, suspense, and dark humor in it. Think Battle Royale meets Death Race- it's that good.
Yesterday I borrowed this from the library and sat down to read it. And was the book good? Unfortunately it did not.
Unfortunately I will have to place the blame for this book's weakness on "sophomore syndrome"- that is, when an author writes a first book that is fresh, exciting and new, and then when she writes a sequel she feels that the first book is such a bestseller that she doesn't have good enough ideas and just writes what she can, and in the process, has us thinking about her editor, who was probably sipping wine coolers on a beach somewhere.
So yeah, basically, this book picks up right where book one left off. Peeta and Katniss are in love. They have just returned from the Hunger Games, and, well, what do you know. They're famous. Oh! And Peeta proposes to Katniss. Awwww!
So basically, the first 2/3 of the book is nothing but just that. It's not until at least page 230 or so where the real action begins. Peeta and Katniss have to go back into the game for a second round. And while this may sound good and like it is a good plot device, unfortunately it isn't. The whole thing is rushed, sloppily written and too many unnecessary character changes. Unlike the first book it's not exciting, and it just feels like the first book all over again.
I'm really sorry to write this review- I wish I wasn't. The first book was a MASTERPIECE. Sure the concept wasn't the most original but it was a fun read and had me on the edge of my seat. Tons of suspense and excitement was in the book, likeable characters, and a good ending that had us excited for book two.
Whereas this... what happened? Did Collins get really bored while writing and just decide to fill the pages with enough filler so that a book could be released? Did that also mean turning characters like Peeta into a sociopath, and turning Katniss into a whiny and angsty ditz? Did it also mean just not editing? Almost nothing happens until act 3, and when something does happen, you're so bored that you're dozing/trailing off and not caring- something I was doing.
Also, about halfway through, it felt like Collins suddenly decided, "Hey, I wrote a bestseller and have tons of fans and followers! No need to proofread or edit, everything I write is pure gold, and the fans will eat up whatever I give them!" This frustrated me to no end, as like I mentioned before, the first 2/3s have you waiting for something to happen. Then things happen and by that point you're so bored you don't care.
It isn't completely bad, though. The engagement stuff was cute, the cliffhanger at the end was great (and saves the book from being a total disaster), we still have all the characters from the first we like. But not this time do we like them.
So Mrs. Collins, PLEASE let the third book be better than this. I spent most of the book just waiting for stuff to happen. And PLEASE don't mess with the characters again! I felt like I was reading a fanfiction. No doubt will I be reading the third book, but as for now, I do not like where the series is going.
Showing reviews 26-30 of 411
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